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Grand Rapids Griffins

Wolves Blank Griffins to Claim Central Division

May 12, 2021 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Calvin Pickard and his defense against the Chicago Wolves
Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Calvin Pickard and his defense against the Chicago Wolves
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - One night after registering their first shutout of the season, the Grand Rapids Griffins suffered their first blanking on Wednesday in a 7-0 loss to the Chicago Wolves at Van Andel Arena.

Chicago only led 2-0 through 39 minutes and 57 seconds of play before a late second-period tally opened the door to a four-goal third for the Wolves, who used a hat trick by David Cotton and 35 saves by rookie Beck Warm to clinch the Central Division crown.

The visitors drew first blood 12:17 into the contest when Sean Malone roofed a backhand over Calvin Pickard at the right post, then Cotton made it 2-0 during a power play at 13:33 by firing a shot at point-blank range that trickled over the line.

Chicago stretched its lead with just 2.6 seconds left in the middle period, as Sheldon Rempel popped a shot into a wide-open back door off a centering feed from Anthony Richard. Max Lajoie pushed the margin to 4-0 at 4:48 of the third, threading a long shot from the left point through traffic and past a screened Pickard.

Cotton scored his second of the night at the 8:10 mark, one second after a Chicago power play expired, by whipping home a shot from the bottom of the right circle. He completed his hat trick with a 5-on-3 goal at 15:41, and Frederic Allard provided the nightcap with the Wolves' third power play goal 1:10 later.

The Griffins, who had swept two games against Chicago last weekend, will close out their 32-game schedule with a home-and-home set against Cleveland. They'll travel to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday before hosting the Monsters for Saturday's season finale.

Notes

- The Griffins have played four games in the last six days and 10 games in the last 17 days.

- Grand Rapids suffered its second 7-0 defeat in 25 seasons (Jan. 3, 2004 at Milwaukee) and its worst shutout ever on home ice, following a trio of 6-0 losses. The most recent came on April 8, 2011 versus Abbotsford.

- The seven-goal margin of defeat tied the Griffins' records both overall and at home. It happened at Van Andel Arena on Nov. 14, 2006 (8-1 loss to Milwaukee) and twice earlier on the road.

Chicago 2 1 4 - 7

Grand Rapids 0 0 0 - 0

1st Period-1, Chicago, Malone 4 (Cotton, Solow), 12:17. 2, Chicago, Cotton 12 (Tomasino), 13:33 (PP). Penalties-served by Cotton Chi (bench minor - too many men), 3:13; Loggins Gr (holding), 12:54; Dello Gr (interference), 14:03; Criscuolo Gr (goaltender interference), 19:05; Cotton Chi (slashing), 20:00.

2nd Period-3, Chicago, Rempal 4 (Richard, Keane), 19:57. Penalties-served by Barber Gr (bench minor - too many men), 2:53; Allard Chi (interference), 6:38; Elson Gr (slashing), 17:50.

3rd Period-4, Chicago, Lajoie 6 (Malone), 4:48. 5, Chicago, Cotton 13 (Novak, Tomasino), 8:10. 6, Chicago, Cotton 14 (Warsofsky, Tomasino), 15:41 (PP). 7, Chicago, Allard 3 (Lajoie, Rempal), 16:51 (PP). Penalties-Spezia Gr (holding), 6:09; Barton Gr (tripping), 13:42; Smith Gr (goaltender interference, misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:08; Healey Chi (roughing), 18:11; McIlrath Gr (roughing), 18:11.

Shots on Goal-Chicago 10-12-10-32. Grand Rapids 12-8-15-35.

Power Play Opportunities-Chicago 3 / 8; Grand Rapids 0 / 3.

Goalies-Chicago, Warm 8-3-1 (35 shots-35 saves). Grand Rapids, Pickard 0-1-1 (32 shots-25 saves).

A-750

Three Stars

1. CHI Cotton (hat trick, assist); 2. CHI Warm (W, SO, 35 saves); 3. CHI Tomasino (three assists)

Record / Next Game

Grand Rapids: 15-11-3-1 (34 pts.) / Fri., May 14 at Cleveland 7 p.m.

Chicago: 20-8-1-2 (43 pts.) / Fri., May 14 at Rockford 6 p.m. CDT

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics




Images from this story

Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Calvin Pickard and his defense against the Chicago Wolves
Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Calvin Pickard and his defense against the Chicago Wolves
(Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins)		   

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